Sydney Week + East Coast6 week work and travel: Sydney to Cairns Group Tour

Day by day

1. 

   Day 1

   Welcome to Sydney

   Land in Sydney and your airport transfer takes you straight to your hostel in the CBD, so there is no fumbling with trains on day one. Drop your bags, freshen up and meet the rest of the group, most of whom have also just arrived on their own. In the late afternoon your Group Leader takes everyone on a walking tour of the city: Darling Harbour, The Rocks, the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the Royal Botanic Gardens, with tips on the cheapest places to eat and how to get around. The day finishes with a welcome dinner and drinks, a good chance to get to know who you are travelling with.

2. 

   Day 2

   Work session and harbour cruise

   The morning is the work and travel session. You go through how tax works for working holiday makers, your Tax File Number, opening your bank account, phone plans, Opal cards and public transport, and where the jobs are in Sydney and beyond. Bring your questions, nothing is too basic. In the afternoon you board a private catamaran for a cruise on Sydney Harbour. You sail past the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge with a BBQ on board, music and plenty of time for photos. It is one of the best ways to see the city and a highlight for most groups.

3. 

   Day 3

   To Port Stephens

   Pack a small bag and head about 2.5 hours north up the coast to Port Stephens. Basecamp is a set of eco beach cabins with shared dorms, a 5 minute walk from the sand, in a laid back area with bush, beaches and wildlife on the doorstep. The afternoon is relaxed: settle in, swim or walk along the beach. In the evening the group gets together for dinner, then it is a beach night and stargazing away from the city lights. It is a great reset after the long flight and the first busy days in Sydney.

4. 

   Day 4

   Sand dunes and sandboarding

   Today is all about the sand. A 4WD takes you through the Worimi Conservation Lands to the Stockton Bight dunes, the largest moving coastal sand dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. The views across the dunes to the ocean are huge, and the scenery feels like a desert next to the sea. Then it is time to sandboard down the steep faces of the dunes, which is easier than it looks and a lot of fun. Later there is a guided walk up to a lookout over the bays of Port Stephens. Bring sunscreen, a hat and water, as the sand gets hot in summer.

5. 

   Day 5

   Dolphins and back to Sydney

   Start the morning on the water with a dolphin watching cruise. Port Stephens is home to a large pod of bottlenose dolphins that live in the bay all year, so sightings are very common, and in the right season you may also see migrating whales offshore. After lunch you head back down the coast to Sydney and check back in to your city hostel. The evening is free to rest, catch up on messages home or head out for dinner with the group.

6. 

   Day 6

   CV day and night out

   Today is about getting ready to work. With your Group Leader on hand, you finish your Australian CV, set up your job search profiles and start applying for jobs, whether that is hospitality in the city, farm work for your second year visa, or work further along the coast. Use our free CV builder to get it done quickly. Once the applications are in, it is time to celebrate. The night ends with a pub crawl around Sydney with express entry into the venues, a fun way to see the city's nightlife with your new friends.

7. 

   Day 7

   Coogee to Bondi

   Your final day starts with the famous coastal walk from Coogee to Bondi. The path runs along the clifftops for about 6 km, past six beaches, rock pools and ocean pools, with plenty of spots to stop for a swim or a coffee. Finish at Bondi Beach for lunch and a swim. After that it is farewells. Many people stay on in Sydney to start work, while others head off to travel or to regional jobs. Your 12 months of TAW job support and your TAW Mailbox keep going, so help is still there after the week ends.

8. 

   Days 8 to 12

   Sydney and Byron Bay

   Start in Sydney with a city tour and orientation, getting to know the group and your Group Leader. Then take the overnight coach north to Byron Bay. In Byron you have a surf lesson on the famous beaches, a yoga session to slow things down, and the walk up to the Cape Byron Lighthouse. With extra days here you have time to enjoy the town's cafes, markets and relaxed vibe at your own pace.

9. 

   Days 13 to 18

   Surfers Paradise and Brisbane

   Head up to Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast for beaches by day and nightlife by night, with time to swim, explore and enjoy the coast. Then move on to Brisbane, where you explore South Bank's riverside parklands and its free city beach, and spend time getting to know the city. The 5 week pace means there is time to rest between the big days.

10. 

    Days 19 to 20

    Noosa

    Travel to Noosa, one of the prettiest towns on the Sunshine Coast. Walk the headlands of Noosa National Park, looking out for koalas in the trees and dolphins in the water. Visit the Fairy Pools, natural rock pools by the ocean, and take in the views from Laguna Lookout over the river and the coastline. Noosa is known for its relaxed, upmarket feel and great beaches.

11. 

    Days 21 to 25

    Rainbow Beach and K'gari

    Continue to Rainbow Beach, then join a 4WD tour on K'gari, the largest sand island in the world. Swim in the clear waters of Lake McKenzie and the Champagne Pools and explore the island's beaches and rainforest. You spend 2 nights camping on the beach, with nights around the camp and some of the best stars you will ever see.

12. 

    Days 26 to 31

    Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays

    Arrive in Airlie Beach and relax at the lagoon in the centre of town. Then set sail for 2 nights in the Whitsundays. You visit the famous Whitehaven Beach and Hill Inlet, where the swirling white sand and blue water make one of the most photographed views in Australia. There is time for snorkelling, swimming and sunsets on deck.

13. 

    Days 32 to 34

    Magnetic Island

    Take the ferry across to Magnetic Island, a relaxed island off Townsville with granite boulders, bays and lots of wildlife. Walk the Forts Walk, where wild koalas are often seen in the trees, and enjoy the island's beaches. There is time for snorkelling in the calm bays and simply slowing down before the final leg north.

14. 

    Days 35 to 36

    Mission Beach

    Mission Beach sits between the rainforest and the reef. Explore the Djiru National Park, home to the endangered cassowary, and enjoy the long quiet beach. For something more adventurous, there is optional white water rafting on the Tully River, one of the best rafting rivers in Australia.

15. 

    Days 37 to 43

    Cairns and the reef

    Finish in Cairns with a full week in the tropics. Head out to the outer Great Barrier Reef for a day of snorkelling among coral, fish and turtles. Explore the Atherton Tablelands, with their waterfalls, swimming holes and rainforest, and relax at the Cairns lagoon. The tour ends with a farewell dinner with your group. Plenty of people stay on in Cairns to work or keep travelling.